LEANDRA'S LAW

CHILD PASSENGER PROTECTION ACT

Bill will Increase Penalties For Individuals Convicted of Driving While Intoxicated with a Child In The Car

"In 2007, there were 9,480 accidents related to driver intoxication in New York and 344 resulted in deaths. Nearly 200 of those killed or injured were under the age of 14.

Leandra Rosado an 11 year old girls life came to a tragic end October 11, 2009 in a DWI accident on the Henry Hudson Parkway when she and six other children were in a car that spun out of control and Leandras body was ejected out of the vehicles window causing her death, all other kids were seriously injured and one still remains critical in the hospital. The driver who was drunk beyond the drinking limit escaped only with minor cuts and burses.

Too often, intoxicated drivers directly threaten the lives of those too young to decide whether to enter a car with an adult. To those who put our children at risk, today we say enough," Governor Paterson said.. We need to provide our law enforcement officials with the tools they need to combat the scourge of intoxicated driving and deter the devastating misconduct."

Under Senator Fuschillo's proposed legislation:

Individuals charged with driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more and with a child under the age of 16 in the vehicle would be charged with a Class E felony, punishable by up to 4 years in state prison and/or $5,000 fine;
Expand the state's aggravated vehicular homicide law to include drunk drivers who kill a child under the age of 16. In addition, it would raise the penalty for aggravated vehicular homicide to a Class B violent felony, punishable by 5 to 25 years in state prison;
Expand the state's aggravated vehicular assault law to include drunk drivers who seriously injure a child under the age of 16. In addition, it would raise the penalty for aggravated vehicular assault to up to a Class C violent felony, punishable by 3.5 to 15 years in state prison;

We ask you to please join us to fight for the Leandra's Law so we can prevent anymore drinking and driving fatality. Your support will make a difference.